THE NORTH TEMPERATE ZONE 59 



beeches, and oaks of several species. Further south these are re- 

 placed by evergreen oaks, including the Ilex oak, and cork oak, 

 and next in importance is the olive, which forms extensive woods 

 in a wild state, and is widely planted for its fruit. 



The forests, especially in the drier regions, are open, with much 

 undergrowth, and the trees of small size; and all gradations between 

 these open woods, and trees growing alone, or in small groups, 

 may be met with. 



Much of the drier country in Spain is covered with a more or 

 less dense growth of shrubs and undershrubs. In the cooler dis- 

 tricts of the northwest are extensive heaths composed entirely 

 of species of Erica, but more commonly these shrub formations are 

 composed of a variety of forms, such as woody labiates like laven- 

 der and rosemary; rock roses (Cistus); many species of broom and 

 other woody Papilionaceae. The woody Labiatae are remarkably 

 abundant and make an important element in the Spanish flora, and 

 the genus Cistus is also represented by many species, which often 

 forms pure stands of great extent. 



Among the most showy of the Spanish shrubs are the many 

 species of broom (Cytisus, Genista, Spartium), covered with 

 masses of vivid golden bloom. The " Spanish broom," Spartium 

 junceum, often seen in cultivation, is one of the most abundant 

 species. 



Another showy shrub, abundant along stream banks in southern 

 Spain, is the common oleander. 



The following 1 are the largest families given in order: 1. Com- 

 positae; 2. Papilionaceae; 3. Gramineae; 4. Cruciferae; 5. Labia- 

 tae. 



Ths islands of the Mediterranean, viz.: the Balearic Islands, 

 Sardinia, Corsica and Sicily, Cyprus and Crete, while showing 

 a small percentage of endemic species, have a flora made up for 

 the most part of wide-spread species common to the adjacent 

 mainland. 2 



1 Willkomm, loc. cit., p. 64. 



2 Knoche, H., Flora Balearica, Elude Phytogeographique sur les lies Balcarrs, 1023. 



